The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared a state of emergency at Onne Port in Rivers State due to the repeated incidents of dangerous cargo importation, including arms and ammunition. The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, announced this at a press conference on Wednesday, following the seizure of illicit goods by Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command.
For the next three months, the government will enforce emergency protocols, conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers at Onne Port. This measure follows recent intelligence and seizures that indicate the port is being increasingly used for importing illicit and dangerous cargo, posing significant threats to national security and public health.
Details of Seizures:
Among the recent seizures were:
- One 40-foot container: 4,800 pairs of military/paramilitary camouflage rain boots and 67,320 pairs of various rubber footwear, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N923,040,000.
- Three 40-foot containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a DPV of N4,716,573,846.
- Three 40-foot containers: 380,000 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, and other items, valued at N17,432,506,000.
- Five 40-foot containers: Containing 892,400 bottles of cough syrup with codeine and other pharmaceutical items, with a DPV of N8,128,568,295.90.
The emergency measures aim to “clean up” the port and restore its integrity while assuring the business community that lawful trade will not be disrupted. The Customs Service is also calling on patriotic citizens to provide intelligence to prevent further illegal activities.
Adeniyi emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to safeguard national security, pledging that the Nigeria Customs Service will intensify its efforts against smuggling and illegal importation of harmful goods.
